Anyone here take the FE exam?

[bignateyk]

I have a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, and am about 5 years out of school. I decided I want to take the FE exam now while I still remember some of the information in case I need it for my career in the future.

I've been going through a good review book, and looking through my old textbooks, but DAMN, it's amazing how much you forget in 5 years. I barely remember how to do basic calculus, and I sure as hell don't remember anything from chemistry or biology.

I got a 4.0 GPA in every subject relevant to this test too. It feels like I have to re-learn everything from my first 2 years of college.

 

[JTsyo]

I took the FE senior year so it wasn't too bad. Didn't go back for the PE though. There's no advantage to it at work.

 

[Geocentricity]

I took the FE senior year so it wasn't too bad. Didn't go back for the PE though. There's no advantage to it at work.

Getting a pay increase isn't an advantage at work?
Demonstrating to others that you are KNOWLEDGEABLE in your field of work and able to take on greater responsibilities as well as contribute to more projects is not an advantage?

I don't want to go on any further.

For people who want a career in engineering, the PE is an absolute milestone.

 

[theflyingpig]

Getting a pay increase isn't an advantage at work?
Demonstrating to others that you are KNOWLEDGEABLE in your field of work and able to take on greater responsibilities as well as contribute to more projects is not an advantage?

I don't want to go on any further.

For people who want a career in engineering, the PE is an absolute milestone.

No, it isn't. Everyone knows this.

 

[rcpratt]

I took it in April (or around there), at the end of senior year. It was pretty easy then, but I wouldn't want to do it 5 years down the road.

FE is the same thing as the EIT. Or actually, I believe the FE is the test and if you pass you are an EIT.

Getting a pay increase isn't an advantage at work?
Demonstrating to others that you are KNOWLEDGEABLE in your field of work and able to take on greater responsibilities as well as contribute to more projects is not an advantage?

I don't want to go on any further.

For people who want a career in engineering, the PE is an absolute milestone.

There's no raise associated for me, and likely no greater responsibilities or any kind of advantage really. It doesn't apply to every field. I'll still do it since it's a good thing to have and you never know, though.

 

[dud]

What is an FE?

In the OLD days we were required to take (but not succesfully pass) the EIT. If you passed the test AND acquired 5 years of valid work experience you could become a PE by sucessfully passing the PE exam.

Have things changed recently?

 

[JTsyo]

I was talking about me personally. There's no increase in pay and working here for the last 9 years, I think people know about the extend of my knowledge.

 

[bignateyk]

What is an FE?

In the OLD days we were required to take (but not succesfully pass) the EIT. If you passed the test AND acquired 5 years of valid work experience you could become a PE by sucessfully passing the PE exam.

Have things changed recently?

FE is the same thing as the EIT. Those terms are used interchangeably nowadays.

It isn't really relevant for most EE's, but I am thinking about going into the construction field, and it is much more common to see civil and architectural engineers and those who work in that area required to go down the FE/EIT and PE road.

I figure having the FE exam under my belt will look good when I apply for the architectural engineering masters program in the spring.

 

[Sukhoi]

I have a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, and am about 5 years out of school. I decided I want to take the FE exam now while I still remember some of the information in case I need it for my career in the future.

I've been going through a good review book, and looking through my old textbooks, but DAMN, it's amazing how much you forget in 5 years. I barely remember how to do basic calculus, and I sure as hell don't remember anything from chemistry or biology.

I got a 4.0 GPA in every subject relevant to this test too. It feels like I have to re-learn everything from my first 2 years of college.

I passed the FE when I took it as a senior, but I recall it being fairly challenging. I don't want to think about trying to take it now. Hell I have the GRE tomorrow and the basic math is hard enough haha.

 

[LurkerPrime]

for EE the FE/PE doesn't offer the same advantages it does compared to other engineering fields. I'm eligible to go back and take the PE, but where I'm at it wouldn't get me extra $$ at my job, so not really a point.

To the OP: skip the questions you don't know and come back to them. The last few questions on my test where ethics questions (no real thought required) and I got a great laugh overhearing people talking about running out of time and not getting to the last few questions and just filling in bubbles real quick.

Any question you need to use the reference book for skip it, and come back after you've done all the ones that you can do without it. When it comes to the reference book the ToC and index are your friend. I saw people frantically flipping through the pages looking for stuff. Was great entertainment while I twiddled my thumbs for well over an hour for each half of the test waiting for them to let me leave.

btw I passed on the first attempt. I thought it was easy, I wish they told you how many questions you got correct, but the letter just says "pass".

 

[gorcorps]

I just took it a few weeks back. Definitely embarrassing how much was lost, and I have no idea if I passed.

 

[bignateyk]

I just took it a few weeks back. Definitely embarrassing how much was lost, and I have no idea if I passed.

How long has it been since you graduated? Did you study a lot?

 

[Aharami]

I have a BSc in Comp Engg and I graduated with a 3.5 GPA. But after 6+ yrs of not using it, i dont remember any of it. I even have to look up the basic electrical equations. It's a shame really

 

[bignateyk]

I have a BSc in Comp Engg and I graduated with a 3.5 GPA. But after 6+ yrs of not using it, i dont remember any of it. I even have to look up the basic electrical equations. It's a shame really

The one thing i've noticed is that while I have forgotten a lot of stuff, it also comes back much quicker when I look it up than it did the first time I learned it.

I've made it through 2 semesters of calculus in about 3 hours of review.